WE’RE football crazy, football mad – and many people wouldn’t see this as a compliment.

A new season kicks off this Saturday, and the stunningly successful London 2012 Olympics has put the Premier League, especially, into sharp focus. Suddenly, pundits and commentators are asking what the game can learn from the Games – and, gloomily, whether the feelgood factor is about to be replaced by a feelbad factor.

In my column in last Wednesday’s ECHO, I said I’d stopped looking forward so much to August 18 after the Olympics began, and added: “The contrast between the very best of the Olympics and the very worst of modern-day football seems to be so extreme.

“With the Games, again and again, we have seen the sheer love of sport for sport’s sake, and heard countless human stories of personal sacrifice and supreme dedication.”

The calls and emails I’ve had since – and the similar discussions that have taken place elsewhere in the media – suggest I’m not alone.

One reader, who signed himself FFF (Frustrated Football Fan) emailed: “The problem is that football, not least in this city, is like a drug and a lot of us are addicted to it. We know all about its serious problems, not least the vast expense involved for families and the growing gulf between the supporters and multi-millionaire players, but the clubs realise us mug punters will come back again and again – we just can’t help it.”

London 2012 may have included football, but it was by no means the star attraction during an inspirational fortnight.

And to many, the photographs on this page will sum up the challenges facing the game – and how much work it has to do to improve its image.

Some may say our choice – a smiling Jessica Ennis and a snarling Joey Barton – is unfair. Perhaps – but only because there were lots of smiling Olympians we could have used . . . and lots of snarling footballers.

Since the curtain came down on London 2012 and people began turning their attention to the start of the 2012/13 football season, there has been a lot of talk centred around three words: joy, humility and respect.

The joy that surrounded the Olympics but is sadly lacking from modern-day football.

The humility that was so often displayed during the Olympics but is sadly lacking from modern-day football.

The respect that existed between Olympians and the public that is sadly lacking between many people in football and many members of the public.

On Sunday, I was only able to catch a few minutes of the Community Shield curtain-raiser – but I saw enough. There may have been five goals (Manchester City beat Chelsea 3-2) but – and let’s not forget this is a match for charity – there were also eight bookings and one sending off.

The action I saw included new Chelsea signing Eden Hazard falling over in the apparent hope of winning a free-kick – and teammate Ashley Cole snarling about some minor decision.

Yes, football is back!

But these examples are certainly unfair, as they are merely representative of what fans will see in games across the country during every week of the new season. Some people are never happy, are they? Not even being paid £100,000 – or more – a week is enough to put a smile on the faces of some footballers.

But the authorities have their part to play, too – and they don’t always seem to play it. Many fans, for example, believe many footballers are intent on refereeing games themselves – and that they have been allowed to by referees who often seem in awe of, and to want to be friends with, superstar players.

How else, they ask, can you explain the depressingly-common sight of high-profile players berating and swearing at officials – and getting away with it? (this will happen when, say, a throw-in decision has gone against them on the halfway line).

Then there are those other bad examples – surly managers who are so quick to bleat and moan about anything and everything, except the shortcomings of themselves and their teams.

We worship football in this country and we worship our own team’s players, turning a blind eye when their behaviour is unsporting – so perhaps it’s no surprise that so many players seem to believe they are untouchable gods who can stick two fingers up to authority and always get away with it.

But football needs to take a long, hard look at itself – and football needs to be careful. Many people have fallen out of love with the game – and London 2012 may persuade more fans to take a step back and look at what their favourite sport has become.

Millions of people across the UK may always be football crazy, but that doesn’t mean the game should take supporters for granted. Our Olympians will hopefully inspire a generation of youngsters – and everyone connected with football should be looking to do the same.